ON THE COVER: Concrete is a central component of the Willowton Group’s expansion of its Isando plant, where Johannesburg-based contractor Lemay is working with leading construction materials company AfriSam on a new sunflower seed intake facility. Underway since June 2023, the project began with the construction of a large 30 m by 90 m bunker with 11,5 m high walls, topped with a 5 m steel structure. This was after Lemay completed the necessary excavations and bulk earthworks. The bunker houses two conveyor channels for the seed husks returning to the bunker after the seeds have been pressed for oil.
“Doing what we do, better”
Five decades ago three pioneering South African engineers started SRK Consulting (SRK) with the aim of establishing a consultancy with a culture of innovation and a broad based business model based on employee ownership, one that facilitates people to grow specific areas of technical consulting. Originally started as a consultancy focusing on mining, more areas of expertise were added as the company grew its global footprint and network of people with a shared outlook. Construction World spoke to SRK’s Managing Director, Andrew van Zyl and Steve Bartels, Partner and Principal Civil Engineering Technologist about the company’s innovative approach to growth, its changing involvement in infrastructure in Southern Africa and how innovation still forms the backbone of everything this company undertakes.
Laser-focused approach to customer experience
AFGRI Equipment, a distributor of John Deere Equipment, understands that success in the construction and mining industries hinges on having reliable, high-performance equipment. They have taken their deep retail knowledge and experience from the agricultural sector and expertly applied it to construction and forestry over the past three years. A commitment to excellence has made them a trusted partner for many farmers, and now they are extending that same dedication to local mining, construction, and forestry companies. By developing a stand-alone Construction & Forestry (C&F) business unit to better serve clients in these demanding industries. Construction World spoke with Pieter Nel, AFGRI Equipment’s Operations Manager for Construction and Forestry, about their focused approach and how they meet the unique needs of customers.
Speeding up concrete curing in cold weather
With South Africa’s winter season on its way, many concrete users will know that slower curing times could derail their contract or production schedules, but accelerating admixtures – or accelerators – are available to solve this challenge. With the country’s generally temperate climate, it is easy to forget that many provinces and neighbouring Lesotho regularly experience sub-zero temperatures, points out Hannes Engelbrecht, Concrete Business Unit Director for Domestic and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at CHRYSO Southern Africa. Temperatures do not even need to reach freezing point; the concrete hydration process slows down steadily as temperature drops and actually stops when it goes below about 5 degrees Celsius.
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